Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo prediction, preview, team news and more

Seeking to secure top spot in Group D of the Copa Libertadores, Junior Barranquilla and Botafogo square off in the group finale on Tuesday (May 28). Both sides are level on nine points at the top of the table ahead of their clash at the Estadio Metropolitano.

Barranquilla returned to winning ways in the Colombian Primera A Apertura as they edged out Atlético Bucaramanga 1-0 on Saturday. Before that, Arturo Reyes’ men were on a two-game winless run, picking up one point from a possible six in the new top-flight campaign.

The hosts now turn their attention to the Copa Libertadores, where they have enjoyed an unbeaten campaign and are atop Group D with nine points from five games.

Botafogo, meanwhile, have also picked up nine points from their five Copa Libertadores games but sit below Barranquilla on goal difference.

Artur Jorge’s men head into the midweek clash fresh off a 2-1 second-leg victory over Vitoria in the Copa do Brasil, which saw them progress to the fourth round with a 3-1 aggregate win.

Botafogo are unbeaten in four games across competitions, winning thrice, since a 2-1 loss to Bahia on May 5.

Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo Head-to-Head

This will be the second encounter between Barranquilla and Botafogo, with the Colombian outfit claiming a 3-1 victory when they first met in April.

Junior Barranquilla Form Guide: W-D-L-W-D

Botafogo Form Guide: W-W-D-W-L

Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo Team News

Junior Barranquilla

The hosts will take to the pitch without Sebastian Araujo, who is injured, while defender Marco Perez will sit out due to suspension.

Injured: Sebastian Araujo

Suspended: Marco Perez

Botafogo

Botafogo remain without several players due to injuries.

Injured: Jeffinho, Pablo, Tiquinho Soares, Fernando Marcal, Matheus Nascimento, Rafael da Silva

Suspended: None

Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo Predicted XIs

Junior Barranquilla (4-2-3-1): Santiago Mele; Walmer Pacheco, Emanuel Olivera, Jermein Pena, Gabriel Fuentes; Didier Moreno, Victor Cantillo; Luis Daniel Gonzalez, Yimmi Chara, Deiber Caicedo; Carlos Bacca

Botafogo (4-2-3-1): John Victor; Damian Suarez, Lucas Halter, Bastos, Cuiabano; Danilo, Marlon Freitas; Luiz Henrique, Jefferson Savarino, Tche Tche; Junior Santos

Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo Prediction

With top spot in Group D on the line, expect both sides to go all out in search of maximum points. However, they are evenly matched, so they could cancel each other out.

Prediction: Barranquilla 1-1 Botafogo

About the author

Joshua is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda who covers news and match previews. He fell in love with the sport watching Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o win titles at club and international level, and his passion for the sport led him to become a professional football writer. He has an overall professional experience of 5 years.

Joshua supports Chelsea at club level, having witnessed a number of African stars break records with the club. Drogba’s equalizing header and match-winning shootout penalty for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final left a last impact on him. His favorite player is Eden Hazard and favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who gave him the most joyous days as a Blues supporter. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is unlucky to be born in Messi’s era and favors the Argentine in the G.O.A.T. debate.

Joshua also follows the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the Nigeria Professional Football League and loves to play football during his free time. Having attained a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan, he employs his problem-solving skills in crafting articles while doing extensive research to ensure each article is well thought out and crafted.

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Edited by Bhargav

Junior Barranquilla vs Botafogo prediction, preview, team news and more | Copa Libertadores 2024